STORIES OF IMPACT.

Víctor, a 61-year-old father from Malacatán, San Marcos, Guatemala, never imagined that a single accident would change the course of his life.

More than eleven years ago, a devastating fall left him with a severe spinal injury. While doctors focused on saving his back, his ankle injury went untreated. Years later, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his heel bone, and to save his life, they had to perform a transtibial amputation.

The loss of his leg affected far more than his mobility. Unable to work or support his family, Víctor fell into a deep depression and began to lose hope for the future.

Throughout those difficult years, his daughter stood by his side. She became both his caregiver and the family's primary provider, raising her daughter while running a small food business to cover daily expenses. Watching her shoulder so much responsibility weighed heavily on Víctor.

“I want to help my daughter again,” he says. “She has done so much for me.”

That hope began to return when Víctor learned about ROMP. Through ROMP's Mobile Clinic in San Marcos, located more than six hours from Guatemala City, he was able to receive prosthetic care closer to home. By bringing services directly to underserved communities, ROMP helps eliminate the transportation barriers and costs that often prevent people from accessing the rehabilitation care they need.

When the day finally arrived to receive his prosthesis, Víctor was nervous. After years of relying on crutches, he was not sure he would be able to walk again. But to his surprise, he left the clinic standing and walking on his new prosthesis. The emotion on his face was unmistakable, and his daughter's smile said everything words could not. As he took those first steps, other patients applauded and celebrated alongside him. For many who were still waiting for their own prostheses, seeing Víctor walk was a powerful reminder of what is possible and an inspiration to continue caring for their health and residual limbs as they worked toward the same dream.

Today, with support from ROMP and partners like ALPS, Víctor is taking important steps toward greater mobility and independence. Every step brings him closer to returning to work, contributing to his family's income, and easing the burden his daughter has carried for so long.

For Víctor, a prosthesis is more than a device; it is an opportunity to regain his independence, restore his sense of purpose, and once again support the family that never stopped supporting him.